Article of adjustable furniture



Oct. 4, 1960 H. H. MOHLER 2,954,819

ARTICLE OF ADJUSTABLE FURNITURE Filed March 26, 1956 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 /4 (Z I 3 INVENTOR.

Z 2 //AR vEYbC Nam. ER /6 BY 0 g E A GENT United States Patent C 7 2,954,819 ARTICLE OF ADJUSTABLE FURNITURE Harvey H. Mohler, 5647 N. Rosemead Blvd., Temple City, Calif.

Filed Mar. 26,- 1956, Ser. No. 573,766

9 Claims. (Cl. 155-106) This invention relates to furniture generally, and particularly relates to furniture of the adjustable chair type.

In the current picture of available furniture one will find adjustable chairs and those of the so-called contour type. Some of those of the adjustable type are characterized by adjustable backs wherein the back frame is adjustable to varying degrees between sitting and reclining positions. These and others may be further characterized by movable members disposed adjacent the front edge of the seat which, in their extended position, are intended to raise the lower part of the leg so that the calf of the leg rests thereon with the feet off the floor. A, distinct disadvantage of such chairs is their massive appearance together with complicated and heavy mechanisms needed to achieve the purpose. The massiveness and inherent weight of such chairs inveigh against their use in the modern decorative schemes prevalent in the homes of todays functional living.

Chairs of the contour type represent a further attempt to add to-living room comfort principally by configuration. In a chair of this type a person must raise his lower legs for resting on an elevated portion of the chair in a more horizontal position and at a level with his heart. The theory of such a chair is that the heart then has less work to do in pumping the blood from the feet and lower legs. configuration such chairs must have dimensions which preclude their use in the more modestly sized living room. Too, this type chair is not favored by the feminine sex by reason of the possible embarrassment arising out of the need to independently raise or lower the legs and the elevated position of the legs when at rest on the chair.

The present invention overcomes many of the problems of living room chair comfort with a diiferent approach. It is an object of this invention to provide an article of furniture, namely a chair having a seat and back frame member and an ottoman frame member, the seat portion and ottoman including surfaces lying in a common horizontalplane when the members are in a normal position with the back in substantially upright position. The novelty of the invention resides in the positive cooperation of the various members when the seat member is caused to be moved from its normally horizontal disposition on its pivotal connection with the articles base to an inclined rest position, the ottoman member being caused to follow to an inclined angle substantially opposite to the inclination of the seat.

The cooperative action of the various parts is such that a person sitting in the chair can cause it to move to the normally horizontal position from the inclined rest position or vice versa with the very light application of forces to the back or seat with the back or legs of the persons body.

. A particular feature of the chair embodying the invention is the moderate stretching force exerted between the upper and lower legs at the knee joint when the chair is moved from normal to rest positions, thereby But by the very virtue of their,

. joins the back ends of the rails 28,v 29.

2,954,819 Patented Oct. 4, 196.0,

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2 contributing materially to the relaxation of the lower body members. A moderate stretching also occurs at the ankle joint between the feet and lower legs by the inclination of the ottoman member.

Referring to the drawings wherein a preferred embodiment is shown, it being apparent that there will be other embodiments coming within the scope and spirit of the invention:

Fig. 1 shows a side elevation view of a chair constructed according to the invention, the normal and rest positions being shown respectively in full and dashed lines; Fig. 2 shows a sectional plan view taken on the line. 22 of Fig. l;

Fig. 3 shows a sectional elevation view taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2 with the seat and ottoman members displaced slightly upwardly;

Fig. 4 shows a fragmentary view partly cut away, taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 shows a sectional front elevation view taken on the line 55 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 6 shows a sectional side elevation view with the chair in the normal position;

Fig. 7 is similar to Fig. 6 but with the members moved to the rest position; and r Fig. 8 is an enlarged fragmentary detail view of the joinder of the seat and ottoman cushions.

Referring to Fig. 1, the chair 10 is shown as provided. with a back frame member 11, a seat frame member 12, and an ottoman frame member 13, all of which may be suitably cushioned and upholstered as shown. The mem-. bers 11, 12, and 13 are cooperatively arranged on the; base member 14 which is provided with legs 15, 16, 17, 18. While the chair 10 is illustrated without arms, it is apparent that suitable arm members may be providedsecured to the back or seat as desired.

It will be apparent at once that all of the operative mechanism to be described is confined within the frame members, thereby doing away with the requirement for bulky arms or.side panels to conceal operative parts from view.

The base member 14 comprises front and back rails 20, 21 and side rails 22, 23, respectively, to which the feet are secured. The back frame member 11 includes a top frame rail 24 and an intermediate rail 25 separating the side frame rails 26, 27, which latter are secured to the side frame rails 28, 29, respectively, of the seat 12 in a manner well known in the art. The forward ends. of the side rails 28, 29 of the seat frame 12 are secured to the front cross rail 30 .while a rear cross .rail 31 A corner reinforcing rail 32 is disposed as shown to serve as a rest member for the back member of the seat cushion frame, (not shown) and to reinforce the joint of the back and seat side rails, all of which is standard practice in the furniture art.

The ottoman member, 13 comprises front and back rails 33, 34 and side rails 35, 36, joined together in like manner to the other members.

' The back and seat members 11, 12, working together.

as an integral assembly, are arranged for pivotal move ment with respect to the base member 14 about the pintles tact the front cross rail 20 of the base member, as best: shown in Fig. 7. The front cross rail 30 and back rail' 3 34 of the seat and ottoman members, respectively, will rest on the top surface 46 of the side rails 22, 23 of the base member 14 when the chair is in its normal horizontal Pastim- The cushions. which are mounted on the. various morn: standard construction and mounted in a nei' pans well known. 'In general, it be stated that the. cushions comprise a Wood frame having webbing s ps's'ecured theretoftofsupport springs, foam rubber, a batting, hair, and. other "filler materials," all en closed in an under cover material. Upholstering material of choiceis thentacked or otherwise secured over the und., v

'I tflv be, noted in the. present invention that there is no mechanism 'or other frame member parts disposed the, zone designated, bythe, numeral 47- in Fig. 2. This zone 47 is under" that portion ofthe seat member 12 the greatest weight of a person sitting. or rec 'ning in the c'hair, hence the seat cushion may be providedWi'thdeep springs which extendbelow the top sides o f the base and seat member side rails. The construction may be such that the cushion frame is disposed on the seat rails but. overhangsinwardly to allow clearance for the base'side rails 22,23;

Aswill be: noted hereinafter, the ends of the side rails 28 and 35 and of the side'rails 29land 3 6 of the seat and ottoman members, respectively, approach each other when the members move from their normal horizontal position to the angularly.disposed inclined rest position. The approach is angularly, hence the bottom edges of the rails execute the greater dimensional linear movement. There for ,itisfpreffirred that the seat, and ottoman cushions 59; 1 overhangtheir adjacent ends 52, 53, as moreparticula 'ly shown in Fig. 8. The aforesaid under covers. ofjthe cushions are likewise preferably constructed with 5.4, 55..disposed as shown,

These lips are joined as by sewing, after which the material 56 with which the cushions are to be covered the actuator arm shaft 60 and of the link shafts 65, 66 are all substantially parallel to each other and to the axis of the pintles 4t 41.

Secured, as by brazing, to the link shaft 65 are the seat links 67, 68, while the ottoman links 69, 70 are similarly secured to the link shaft 66. The seat links 67, 68 have a swivel connectionwiththebrackets 71, 7 2 mounted on a block member 73 securedto the under side of the front rail-3i of the seat frame member 12.. Likewise, the ottoman links 69, 0rhaye a swivel connection. with the brackets 74-, 75 secured to. the under side of the back rail 34 of the ottoman frame member 13.

From the construction thus fardescribed, and referring particularly to Figs, 6, 7-, and 8, itis now seen that when the seat member is moved clockwise, for example, about its pivot pintles 4t), 41, the links 67, 68 will exert a pull on the actuator arms 61, 62\ and cause them to pivot clockwise around the axis of thearm shaft 60. At the is laid on the cushions and the sides tacked to the cushion frames, The material 56 may be in one piece for both t shions and cut in such a manner that inverted. V-. shap cutouts appear at theoverhang of the cushions. In that, event the V-shaped cutout may be. closed with a gusset sewn to the edges thereof. It is also preferred that the,,material. 56 be securedtothelips. 54, 55, desirably with .a row of buttons extending transversely and along the' lips, The V-shapedcutoutsandthe preferred gusset t tion are, however, not essential to the practice of the nvention. v w

This type of construction results ina bend or break lineinanunbroken lengthof upholstering material. That 1s w hen the frame members are moved there 18- avirtual onimaginary hinge line existing adjacent the line of joinden and this break or hinge line may be. described as movable,parallelwiseaboutthe axis of pivotal move menhof the seat member 12 about the pintles. 40, 41. It is readily seen that by. providing the upholstery material for both ottoman and seat cushionsin'a single piece the possibility of pinching trouser or dress material between the cushions is. obviated.

Another. feature of the inventionis the means for providing cooperative action between the seat andotto-rnan members. To this end the seat and ottoman members are interconnected with links and, inthe preferred embodinient shown, the interconnection includes actuator arms pivotally mounted on the base member 14, all of which now. be. described.

Extending from side to side of. the base and pivotally mountedtherein is an actuator arm. shaft 60. Secured thereon, as by brazing, are the actuator arms 61, 62. 'Ihe ams. may have braces. secured thereto and comprising angle irons 63 64 for providing rigidity. Spaced apart and locatedbetweenthe brace irons 63, 64 are disposedthe link shafts 65, 66 arranged to be freely. rotatable injournal bores provided .inthe arms61, 62.. Iheaaespt.

same time (and absent further interconnecting mecha-. nism) the seat cushion. 5i) will exert a pull on the ottoman cushion 51 through the joined lips 54', 55, respectively, causing the ottoman member to follow the upward movement of the seat member. The following movement of the ottoman is assisted by the action of the arms. 61, 62 manifested through the ottoman links 69, 76, with the swivel links 42, -43 contributing to the overall integrated action of ottoman member withrespect to the seat, mem-. her. As the ottoman links 4-2 46;, and 69, 70 travel over center the ottoman member tends to position. itself in the finalrest positionwithout any substantial pull force beingexerted by the seat on the ottoman through. the cushion lips 54, 55', The positioning action is thus, positively accomplished.

However, itis desirable that the various members posi.-, tion themselves without forces being exerted through the cushion lips 54, 55, and to this end theprefer-red embodiment includes interconnecting means through which such actuating forces are appliedand whereby a line through the lips constitutes merely a virtual. hinge line.

Therearethus. provided sector gears 76, 77, brazed or otherwise secured to the link shaft 65, in mesh with similar sector gears78,.79 secured to thelink shaft 66. Since the meshed ge ars 76 and 73 have a secured connection withthe, links 67j and 69, respectively, and the gears 77 and 79 with the-links 65 and 7d, respectively, it is seen Indeed, such, coordinated action i quite necessary if.

the lips. arejoined. Otherwise the members might become lockedin one position.

tion is the provision for cushioning the action. To this endthereis provided a pistonand cylinder type dashpot means iiikhingedlysecuredto a crossbar 81 fastened to the angleironbrace 63. The piston rodSZ-is, swivelly connectedto the front rail 33 of the ottoman member 13. The,piston.(not shown). within the dashpot means is of the double-acting type tending to compress the air.

at eachend of thecylinder. In order to provide d ashpot actionthe piston may be provided witha calibrated orifice providing. a passageway fromface to face of the.

piston. The structure briefly described is well known in the, art. and. requires no .further. detailed analysis.

Thedashpot. means may be further characterized y. n air:.-P sas ;h .e ?th ou h t y nd termedi tetheen sither qf o.a g q fl 1W\ @l Q Y: I. Q I

Another. feature provided inthe article of this inven-,

movement of the piston during the first half of its movement from either end of the cylinder. By this construction the ottoman and seat members move smoothly and quickly through the first half of the movement from normal to rest positions (or vice versa), and with cushioned dashpot action during the last half of the movement so as to not cause a discomforting jar to the person occupying the chair.

A further feature distinguishing the chair is the provision for a disappearing pillow rest at the top of the back member (Figs. 1 and 5). A fashioned top slat 84 has secured to it two outer slides 85, 86 and a pair of shorter intermediate slides 87, 88 arranged to slide through holes provided in the top frame rail 24 of the back member 11. The lower slat 89 is secured to the lower ends of the intermediate slides 87, 88 below the rail 24. Preferably, the outer slides 85, 86 are tubular and arranged to receive therewithin the guide rods 90, 91 which are secured to the intermediate rail 25 of the back 11. The tubes 85, 86 are slidable over the rods 90, 91 with just enough friction that the pillow rest is easily raised by hand and yet will stay in position once raised.

I claim:

1. An article of lounge-type furniture arranged for movement of members thereof to a plurality of positions, comprising: a base member; a seat and back first frame member provided with a seat surface portion and pivotally mounted with respect to said base member; an ottoman second frame member provided with a leg surface portion and including a link connection with said base member, said frame members being disposed on said base member With their surface portions substantially coextensive; an actuator arm pivotally mounted on said base member; link means connecting said frame members to said actuator arm; and gear means interconnecting said frame members for providing positive cooperative action therebetween through said link means and said actuator arm, whereby when said frame members are in one position with respect to said base member a plane is defined by the surface portions of said frame members with edges of the respective surface portions engaging adjacent a break line on said plane, the break line being substantially parallel to the axis of pivotal movement of said first frame member on said base member, and when said frame members are moved to another position the planes defined by the respective frame member surface portions intersect at an angle along the break line, the break line remaining substantially parallel to the aforesaid pivotal axis during movement of the members.

2. An article of lounge-type furniture arranged for movement of members thereof to a plurality of positions, comprising: a base member; a seat and back first frame member provided with a seat surface portion and pivotally mounted with respect to said base member; an ottoman second frame member provided with a leg surface portion and including a link connection with said base member, said frame members being disposed on said base member with their surface portions substantially coextensive; an actuator arm pivotally mounted on said base member; first link means connecting said first frame member to said actuator arm, and including a first gear means secured to said first link means and pivotally mounted on said actuator arm; and second link means connecting said second frame member to said actuator arm, and including a second gear means secured to said second link means and pivotally mounted on said actuator arm in mesh with the first gear means, the first and second gear means thereby providing positive cooperative action between said frame members through said first and second link means and said actuator arm, whereby when said frame members are in one position with respect to said base member a plane is defined by the surface portions of said frame members with edges of the respective surface portions engaging adjacent a break line on said plane, the break line being substantially parallel to the axis of pivotal movement of said first frame member on said base member, and when said frame members are moved to another position the planes defined by the respective frame member surface portions intersect at an angle along the break line, the break line remaining substantially parallel to the aforesaid pivotal axis during movement of the members.

3. An article of lounge-type furniture arranged'for movement of members thereof to a plurality of positions, comprising: a base member; a seat and back first frame member provided with a seat surface portion and pivotally mounted with respect to said base member; an ottoman second frame member provided with a leg surface portion and including a link connection with said base member, said frame members being disposed on said base member with their surface portions substantially coextensive; resilient movement resisting means connected between .two of said members for cushioning and resisting at least a portion of the movement therebetween; an actuatorarm pivotally mounted on said base member; first link means connecting said first frame member to said actuator arm, and including a first gear means secured to said first link means and pivotally mounted on said actuator arm; and second link means connecting said second frame member to said actuator arm, and including a second gear means secured to said second link means and pivotally mounted on said actuator arm in mesh with the first gear means, the first and second gear means thereby providing positive cooperative action between said frame members through said first and second link means and said actuator arm, whereby when said frame members are in one position with respect to said base member a plane is defined by the surface portions of said frame members with edges of the respective surface portions engaging adjacent a break line on said plane, the break line being substantially parallel to the axis of pivotal movement of said first frame member on said base member, and when said frame members are moved to another position the planes defined by the respective frame member surface portions intersect at an angle along the break line, the break line remaining substantially. parallel to the aforesaid pivotal axis during movement of the members.

4. A chair including seat and ottoman members arranged for movement from a normal position, comprising: means on said seat member including a top surface thereof defining a substantially horizontal plane when said seat member is in its normal position; means on said ottoman member including a top surface thereof defining a substantially horizontal plane when said ottoman member is in its normal position, the planes so defined being con gruent in the normal position of said members, an edge of each of said top surface means being arranged substantially adjacent each other and thereby defining a break line lying on said congruent planes; a base member arranged to support said seat and ottoman members; movable connecting means including pivotal and link means between said seat and ottoman members and said base member, for providing movement including rocking motion of said seat and ottoman members with respect to said base member; and interconnecting means linking said seat and ottoman members, the arrangement of said movable connecting means and of said interconnecting means being such that the defined planes of said seat and ottoman members assume an angle to each other along the break line when said seat and ottoman members are moved from their normal position, with the edges of each of said top surface means retaining substantially the same adjacent relationship to each other in all positions'of said chair, the break line thereby constituting a virtual hinge line between said edges of said top surfaces of said seat and ottoman members.

5. A chair including seat and ottoman members arranged for movement from a normal position, comprising: means onsaid seat member including a top surface thereof defining a substantially horizontal plane when said seat member is in its normal position; means on said'ottoman member including a top surface thereof defininga substantially horizontal plane when said ottoman member is inits normal position, the .planes so defined abeingzcongruent in the normal position of said members, an edge of each of said top surface means being arranged injoinedrelation to each other and thereby defining a .breakslineilying'on said congruent planes; at base member :arranged .to support said seat and ottoman members; means providing a pivotal connection between one of said members and said base member; means providing a movableeconnection.between the other of said members and said base member; and interconnecting mean including at least two pivoted link means arranged in series and linking sai'd seat and ottoman members, the arrangement ofr sa-id pivotal and connection means and of said interconnecting means .being such that the defined planes of said seatand ottoman members assume an angle to each other ;along the break line when said seat and ottoman members :are moved from their normal position, the break line thereby constituting a virtual hinge line between saidedges of said top surfaces of said seat and ottoman members.

'6. Mechanism for providing cooperative movement between-the .base member and first and second frame members .of an article of furniture, comprising: an actuator arm provided with-pivotal means at one end there- .ofadapted to pivotally secure said one end of said arm to one of:said members; first link means having a pivotal connection at one end with said arm and adapted at the other end to be pivotally secured to another of said members; secondlink means having a pivotal connection at oneend with said arm and adapted at the other end to be pivotally secured to the remaining one of said members; and interconnecting means including gear means :between said link means arranged to provide cooperative action between said link means and the members to which they are pivotally secured, said actuator armbeing adapted to provide further cooperative action between said one of said members and the others of said members.

7. An article of furniture arranged for movement of members thereof to a plurality of positions, comprising: a base member; afirst frame member provided with a surface portion and pivotally mounted on said base member; a second frame member provided with a surface portion and provided with a single link connection having one end pivoted thereto and the other end pivotally mounted on said base member, said frame members being disposed on said base member with their surface portions substantially coextensive; first link means having a pivotal connection with one of said members; second link means having a pivotal connection with another of said members; arm means having a pivotal connection with the remaining one of said members and pivotal connections with both said link means; and interconnecting means between said first and second frame members and providing positive cooperation therebetween solely throughthe agency of said link and arm means, whereby when said frame members are in one position with respect to said base member a plane is defined by the surface portions of said frame members with edges of therespective surface portions engaging adjacent a break line :on said plane, the break line being substantially parallel to the axis of pivotal movement of said first frame member on said base member, and when said frame members are moved to another position the planes defined by the respective frame member surface portions intersectat an angle along the break line, the break 8 line remaining substantially parallel to the aforesaid pivotal axis during movement oft/the members.

8. An article of furniturearranged for movement of members thereof to ca plurality :of positions, comprisingz a base member; a first frame member provided with a surface portion and pivotally mounted 011 said. base member; a second frame member providedwith -a-surface portion and provided with a single linkconnection having one end pivoted thereto and the other end pivotally mounted onsaid base member, said frame members being disposed on said base member with their surface portions substantially coextensive; an actuator arm pivotally mounted on one of said members; .lin'k means connecting the others of said members .to said actuator varm; and interconnecting means providing positive cooperation between two of said members solely throughthe agencyof said link means and said actuator arm, whereby when said frame members are in one po sition with respect to said base member a plane is defined bythe surfaceportions of said frame members with edges of the respective surface portions engaging adjacent a breakfline 'on said plane, the break line being substantially parallel to the axis of pivotal movement of 'said'first frame member on said base member, and when said'frame members are moved to another position the planes defined by the respective frame member surface portions intersect at anangle along the break line,'the break line remaining substantially parallel to the aforesaid pivotal axis duringmovement of the members.

9. A article of furniture arranged for movement of members thereof to a'plurality of positions, comprising: "a base member; a firstframe member provided with a surface portion and pivotally mounted on said base member; a second frame member provided with a surface portion and provided with a single link connection having one end pivoted thereto and the other end pivotally mounted on said base member, said frame members being disposed on said base member with their surface portions substantially coextensive; an actuator arm pivot-ally mounted on said base member; link means connecting said frame members to said actuator arm; and interconnecting means providing positive cooperation between said frame members solely through the agency ofsaid link means and said actuator arm, whereby when said frame'members are in one position with respect to said base member a plane is defined by the surface portions of said frame members with edges of the respective surface portions engaging adjacent a break line on said plane, the break line being substantially parallel to the axis of pivotal movement of said first frame member on said base member, and when said frame members are moved to another position the planes defined by therespective frame member surface portions intersect at an angle along the break line, the break line remaining substantially parallel to the aforesaid pivotal axis during movement of the members.

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